Sybil Delling has spent nine years dreaming of having no dreams at all. Like the other foundling girls who traded a decade of service for a home in the great cathedral, Sybil is a Diviner. In her dreams she receives visions from six unearthly figures known as Omens. From them, she can predict terrible things before they occur, and lords and common folk alike travel across the kingdom of Traum’s windswept moors to learn their futures by her dreams.
Just as she and her sister Diviners near the end of their service, a mysterious knight arrives at the cathedral. Rude, heretical, and devilishly handsome, the knight Rodrick has no respect for Sybil’s visions. But when Sybil’s fellow Diviners begin to vanish one by one, she has no choice but to seek his help in finding them. For the world outside the cathedral’s cloister is wrought with peril. Only the gods have the answers she is seeking, and as much as she’d rather avoid Rodrick’s dark eyes and sharp tongue, only a heretic can defeat a god.
The Knight and the Moth is a captivating gothic romantasy novel and the first book in Rachel Gillig’s new “Stonewater Kingdom” series. The book combines divine intrigue, magic, gothic horror, and slow-burn romance into a highly original tale. The story follows Sybil Delling, a Diviner who receives prophetic visions from six enigmatic entities known as “Omens.” As her decade-long service at the cathedral nears its end, Sybil’s world is shattered when her beloved 5 fellow Diviners disappear. Determined to learn of their whereabouts, she joins forces with Rodrick, a sardonic knight who she can’t stand, and a loyal gargoyle from the cathedral. Their journey takes them outside the cathedral’s confines, where surprises, secrets, and magic battles await them!
This story is elevated by its complex, compelling characters. Sybil is a very intelligent, multidimensional, and the most loyal diviner to her enigmatic mentor. The six diviners share a home together and even sleep in the same room, giving off strong sisterly-like bonds, especially with their playful humor and teasing. While they all take their divine duties seriously, they still have their needs and desires—they speak openly about discreet sexual encounters with knights and their longings to experience life beyond the cathedral’s walls. When the 5 diviners disappear, Sybil becomes frantic, and readers can’t help but feel her loss and empathetic towards her.
One of the highlights of the story is the relationship between Sybill & Rodrick, which begins with tension & mistrust. After they form a reluctant alliance, their relationship evolves into a respectful partnership and then a heated romance—it’s a very slow-burn romance, so don’t expect any instalove fireworks going off! There are signs of a mutual attraction earlier on, but both characters are too proud and distracted by their own circumstances to admit it. For the spicy romance lovers, there is one lengthy spicy scene late in the story. The other standout character in the story is the gargoyle (who’s never given a name). He has the most entertaining and endearing personality, and his dialogue is a mixture of childlike wonder, old wisdom, and sarcastic humor that makes him extremely lovable—his relationship with Sybill is a real highlight of the story, and readers will find themselves smiling on multiple occasions!
Gillig’s writing is lyrical and poetic, enhancing the story’s dreamlike feel—especially during scenes when Sybill is receiving visions as a diviner! The world-building is expansive and full of atmospheric gothic vibes and can be separated into two categories: the world-building within the confines of the cathedral and the world-building of the realm outside. The cathedral has strong mystical and spiritual vibes, with its grand “holy cathedral, magic waters used to “drown” the diviners and give them prophetic visions, and a hierarchy of individuals who serve the cathedral. Once Sybil and her companions venture into the outside realm, there’s much more diversity—townspeople of all classes, castles, majestic landscapes, and larger-than-life villains—almost transitioning the story from a gothic horror fantasy to an epic fantasy!
The story has a slow-burn start—the first 30 percent is spent in the cathedral, where the key characters are introduced, the roles of the Diviners are vividly illustrated, and alliances are made that set up the story outside the walls. The pacing improves greatly in the second half, including several magic-infused fighting scenes that add excitement and suspense. There are also some clever twists and reveals, the largest of which is quite foreseeable if readers pay close attention to all the dialogue. The way things play out is dramatic and well executed, and the story ends in a dramatic cliffhanger that will elicit emotional reactions from readers and have them eager to read the next book in the series!
Overall, The Knight and the Moth is a highly compelling novel that is perfect for fans of gothic horror and romantic fantasy. While seasoned romantasy fans may not find the narrative to be overly complex, its atmospheric and haunting settings, wonderful character dynamics, and lyrical prose make it stand out. Fans of Gillig’s previous books and those who enjoy romantasy novels with entertaining banter and memorable characters should immediately add this book to their lists!
Narrator Performace
The audiobook of The Knight and The Moth is an atmospheric and immersive listen narrated by the talented Samantha Hydeson! Hydeson brings protagonist Sybill vividly to life using an exuberant voice and a myriad of emotions during the most pivotal scene. The dialogue scenes between Sybill and the gargoyle are a highlight of the story, as Hydeson makes the exchange heartfelt, hilarious, and compelling. The enemies-to-lovers romance between Sybill and Rodrick is very convincing, and their chemistry is very palpable. As there’s a large cast of characters in this story, including six unique and powerful villains, Hydeson does a great job giving each a distinct voice that matches the character’s traits and intelligence.
Overall, the author’s lyrical writing coupled with Hydeson’s well-paced, expressive performance makes the audiobook the ultimate method to enjoy this book. It’s a must-listen for audiobook enthusiasts who love romantasy stories, gothic horror, and enemies-to-lovers romances! Don’t hesitate on this one!
Narrator Performace
The audiobook of The Knight and The Moth is an atmospheric and immersive listen narrated by the talented Samantha Hydeson! Hydeson brings protagonist Sybill vividly to life using an exuberant voice and a myriad of emotions during the most pivotal scene. The dialogue scenes between Sybill and the gargoyle are a highlight of the story, as Hydeson makes the exchange heartfelt, hilarious, and compelling. The enemies-to-lovers romance between Sybill and Rodrick is very convincing, and their chemistry is very palpable. As there’s a large cast of characters in this story, including six unique and powerful villains, Hydeson does a great job giving each a distinct voice that matches the character’s traits and intelligence.
Overall, the author’s lyrical writing coupled with Hydeson’s well-paced, expressive performance makes the audiobook the ultimate method to enjoy this book. It’s a must-listen for audiobook enthusiasts who love romantasy stories, gothic horror, and enemies-to-lovers romances! Don’t hesitate on this one!
The audiobook of The Knight and The Moth is an atmospheric and immersive listen narrated by the talented Samantha Hydeson! Hydeson brings protagonist Sybill vividly to life using an exuberant voice and a myriad of emotions during the most pivotal scene. The dialogue scenes between Sybill and the gargoyle are a highlight of the story, as Hydeson makes the exchange heartfelt, hilarious, and compelling. The enemies-to-lovers romance between Sybill and Rodrick is very convincing, and their chemistry is very palpable. As there’s a large cast of characters in this story, including six unique and powerful villains, Hydeson does a great job giving each a distinct voice that matches the character’s traits and intelligence.
Overall, the author’s lyrical writing coupled with Hydeson’s well-paced, expressive performance makes the audiobook the ultimate method to enjoy this book. It’s a must-listen for audiobook enthusiasts who love romantasy stories, gothic horror, and enemies-to-lovers romances! Don’t hesitate on this one!
